Watchman&#39;s clock.



O. E. HAUSBURG.

WATGHMANS CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUN; 24, 1913.

1,099,439. Patented JIIIIIG 9, 1914:

20 I? la 5' WITNESSES: INVENTOR I 5mg. ausbg,

ATTORNEYS OTTO E. HAUSBURG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WATCI-IMANS CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 24, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Serial No. 775,482.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, O'rro E. HAUSBURG, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n \Vatchmens Clocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, generally to improvements in watchmens clocks; and the same relates more particularly, to improvements in the key controlled recording mechanism of such clocks whereby the operating keys of one clock are rendered ineffectual for the operation of other clocks of the same type or style.

Watchmens clocks of the character to which my present invention relates are constructed for use by manufacturing concerns, warehouses, hotels and all kinds of institutions and large buildings in which watchmen are employed to make stated or predetermined rounds of inspection. Each clock possesses a-pa-per-dial provided with diagrammatic divisions representing hours and portions thereof, the same being rotated by the clock-movement, and in connection with said clock is a recording mechanism for embossing or otherwise indicating upon said paper dial an identified station or location in the building. Keys for operating said recording mechanism are located at such identified stations in the territory to be watched, and which it is desired that the watchman shall visit at stated intervals. The watchman carrying the clock with him proceeds upon his patrol from one station 5 to another, and takes the key at each station, inserts the samein the clock and turns the same to operate the recording mechanism, thus registering upon the paper dial the time of his visit to said station.

In order for the users of watchmens rear y for manipulation to operate sald' reclocks to obtain the lowest rates of fire and like insurance, the clocks have to be so constructed as to comply with the demands of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, otherwise the same are not approved, and their commercial value greatly depreciated. One of the most important requirements is to provide a large variety of station keys for operating the recording mechanism, so that two watchmen, each having the same type of clock, cannot conspire together to have one operate both clocks and thus leave one of the patrols unprotected.

The possibility of making a variety of different shaped operating or station keys is very limited, due to the necessarily peculiar shape of the key which is required to release and operate the recording mechanism, and yet some simple and easily variable means for rendering the keys of one clock ineffectual for another is highly desirable.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple, easily variable and effective means for rendering the station or operating keys of watchmens clocks noninterchangeable.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following de tailed description of the invention.

The invention consists, primarily, in the novel combination of operating key and guard device for rendering such keys noninterchangeable hereinafter more fully set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the various arrangements and combinations of the several parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear face view of a watchmans clock illustrating the lower portion of the casing broken away to show the recording mechanism and the station or operating key guard devices in plan; Fig. 2 is a view similar to said Fig. 1, but showing a stat-ion or o erating key inserted in normal position cording mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail side or end view of said recording mechanism and said station or operating key guard devices. Fig. 4-. is a detail cross section taken on line %t in said Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view of a station or recording key, the bow portion being broken away; and Fig. 6 is a top edge view of the same.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a watchmans clock, in the casing 2 of which is mounted a base-plate 3 for supporting a clock-movement and a recording mechanism. Mounted in a suitable location upon said base-plate 3 is a transversely extending vertical bracketplate 4:. Also mounted upon said base-plate 3, opposite to said bracket-plate 1, is a block 5, the same being provided with an opening (5 of proper shape to permit the insertion therethrough of a station or operating key. Supported between said bracket-plate 4e and said block 5 is a shaft or spindle 7 upon which are pivotally mounted, side by side,

. a series of actuating levers 8 of a recording mechanism. Each actuating lever 8 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 9 at the free end of which is located the embossing die 10, each arm 9 being provided with a different character or design of embossing die corresponding with, and only operated by the operating key of, the station which the same indicates. Said baseplate 3 is further provided with an opening 11 through which said arms 9 and their embossing dies 10 pass into recording contact with a paper record dial 12 supported upon the opposite face of said base-plate 3, a grooved backing-block 13 being arranged to back the said paper record dial 12 against the embossing pressure of said dies 10 when said actuating levers 8 are operated.

The reference character 14 indicates a safety lock-bar interposed beneath the free ends of said actuating levers 8 when the same are in their normal initial position, said lock-bar only being removed when a station or operating key is entirely and properly inserted in the clock, and the key turned to effect the recording operations, a suitable key actuated mechanism for removing said bar being provided, but the same not forming an essential part of the present invention, and consequently not shown in detail in the drawings. Extending forwardly from said bracket-plate 1 and above said actuating levers 8 is a pivot-pin 15 upon which the station or operating key is journaled when inserted operatively within the clock, the free end of said pivot-pin extending through the key passage or opening 6 ofsaid block 5. Connected with said casing 2, so as to be located opposite said block 5 1s a ward-block 10, the same having a keypassage or opening 1. registering with said key-passage or opening 0 of the block 5, and corresponding to the end configuration of the operating or station keys. Connected by one end with said bracket-plate 4c and extending transversely across and above said actuating levers 8 so as to be connected by its other end to one side of said block 5 is a bridge-piece 18, the same being provided with a longitudinally disposed series of perforations 19 in any one of which may be selectively supported a ward-stud or pin 20. Said ward-stud or pin 20 may be externally threaded, and said perforations 19 may be internally threaded for the reception of said ward-stud or pin 20, and thus provide means for rigidly fixing the same in the desired position in supported relation to said bridgepiece 18.

The reference-character 21 indicates the bow of a station or operating key, from the said bow of which extends a tubular stem 22 which is adapted to telescope over said pivot-pin 15 when said key is inserted in the clock. Extending outwardly from one side of said stem 22, adjacent to its free end, is the bit-plate 23 of said key which may be provided with suitable gatings 2stE corresponding to ward-points of the key-guard mochanism. Extending longitudinally of said bitplate 28 at its outer marginal edge and projecting upwardly from the surface of said bit-plate 23 is a shoulder 25, the upper surface of which is preferably chamfered or in clined downwardly from its inner longitudi nal edge to its outer longitudinal edge. Suitably located in connection with said shoulder 25 is a lug 26 upon the upper surface of which is a pressing-stud 27. hen said hey is turned its bit-plate 23 carries around said shoulder 25 with the lug 26 and pressing-stud 27 bringing the latter into operating contact with the free end of one of said actuating levers 8 thereby pressing downwardly the latter to carry its arm 9 and die 10 into recording contact with said rec ord-dial 12. Of course, it will be understood that the number of station or operating keys correspond to the number of actuating-levers S, and consequently each key is arranged to operate one of said actuating levers only, and will not serve to operate any of its fellows, this result being accomplished by positioning upon the shoulder of the bit-plate of each key a lug 26 and pressing stud 27 corresponding in registration. when the key is inserted in the clock, to the actuating lever 8 desired to be operated. Extending outwardly from the longitudinal free edge of said bit-plate 23, and projecting therefrom in the same plane as said bitplate is a guard-lip or shoulder 28. When the said key is inserted in the clock said guard-lip or shoulder 28 extends beneath said ward-stud or pin 20, and since the operating movement of the key must carry the bit-plate 23 upward and over in a revolving movement about said pivot-pin 15, said guard-lip or shoulder 28 by engaging said Ward-stud or pin 20 prevents such operative movement of the key unless the said guard-lip or shoulder 28 is provided with a gating 29 which registers beneath said ward-stud or pin 20 when the key is completely and fully inserted within the clock, so as to permit said ward-stud or pin 20 to pass therethrough and consequently said guard-lip or shoulder 28 to pass by the said ward-stud or pin 20.

If the watchmans clock is provided with i a recording mechanism adapted to register the patrol of sixteen stations, there will, of course, be sixteen station or operating keys, each accommodated with operating means for operating one of the sixteen actuatinglevers 8, as above described, but each of the sixteen keys will be provided with said guard-lip or shoulder 28 having the same location of the gating 29 therein which will correspond to the position of the ward-stud or pin 20 as located upon the bridge-piece 18, and consequently the set of station or operating keys is thus constructed to operate only its companion clock. In another clock of the same type the said ward-stud or pin 20 is changed with relation to its position on the bridge-piece 18, by fixing said ward-stud or pin 20 in another of the series of perforations 19. This being done, it follows that the set of keys of the first clock will not operate the second, since the gating 29 of the guard-lip or shoulder 28 of said keys will not register with the changed position of said ward-stud or pin 20 in the second clock, and consequently the guardlip or shoulder 28 of such keys will, by engaging said ward-stud or pin 20, obstruct the revolving or operative movement of the keys in the second clock. It will thus be understood that by changing the position of the said ward-stud or pin 20 in a series of clocks, and the gating 29 of the guard-lip or shoulder 28 of a corresponding series of station Or operating keys, the keys designed for use in one clock are thus rendered inoperative as to the other clocks; in other words, the several sets of keys are noninterchangeable.

It will be clearly evident that such an an rangement and construction of key controlled mechanism and operating keys, as above described, is highly desirable under various conditions of use to which watchmens clocks are put; for example, where there are more than one watchman in a single institution each having a separate patrol or beat, since neither one can operate the clocks of any of his fellows and thus permit the latter to shirk his duties.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact arrangements or details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, except as limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a watchmans clock the combination with a key controlled recording mechanism of a series of station keys, a bridgepiece supported in connection with said recording mechanism, a wardstud supported by said bridge-piece, said ward-stud being adapted to be shifted to different positions upon said bridge-piece, each station key having a bitplate provided with a longitudinal shoulder carrying means for operating said recording mechanism, said shoulder extending over said ward-stud so as to prevent turning the key in the wrong direction the bit-plate of each station key having a guard-lip adapted to extend beneath said ward-stud when said keys are inserted in their initial position for operating said recording mechanism, and. said guard-lip of each key havinga gatingtherein adapted to register with sald ward-stud when said keys are inserted in their initial position for operating said recording mechanism.

2. In a watchmans clock the combination with a key-controlled recording mechanism of a series of station keys provided with tubular stems, a pivot-pin extending in a fixed relation above said recording mechanism for the reception of the tubular stems of said station keys, each station key having a bitplate extending outwardly from said tubular stem and provided with a longitudinal shoulder carrying means for operating said recording mechanism when said keys are turned upon said pivot-pin, a fixed bridgepiece paralleling said pivot-pin, a ward-stud projecting from said bridge-piece, means for securing said ward-stud in difierent positions upon said bridge-piece, said longitudinal shoulder of said bit-plate extending over said ward-stud so as to prevent turning the key in the wrong direction, the bit-plate of each station key having a guard-lip projecting from its free longitudinal edge, the same extending beneath said ward-stud so that the latter projects into the path of the revolving movement of said bit-plate and said guard set forth above I have hereunto set my hand lip, and said guard-lip of each key having a this 20th day of June 1913.

atinp' therein adapted to re ister with said i i ardstud When said keys an? completely in- OTTO HAUSBURG' i serted in their initial position for operating Witnesses:

said recording mechanism. GEORGE D. RICHARDS,

In testlmony, that I claim the lnventlon ADOLPH HANSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01 Patents, Washington, D. C. 

